The Moscow Water Dog

The Moscow water dog, though now extinct, was once a fluffy four-footer that eventually led to the creation of the Black Russian Terrier.

You won’t find any of these unique dogs today, but we’ll share some of the traits of these mysterious mutts below and explain the breed’s short lived history. 

The Moscow Water Dog: Key Takeaways

• The Moscow water dog is an extinct breed that was originally developed for the Russian navy. Because the breed is no longer around and it was created a military project, there are still a ton of things we don’t know about these dogs.
• Moscow water dogs were created by combining a few different dog breeds. Specifically, breeders used Newfoundlands, Caucasian shepherd dogs, and east European shepherds to create the breed.
• Unfortunately, these dogs did not have ideal temperaments for their work, which led to their ultimate extinction. They ended up being more aggressive than desired, which limited their ability to perform water rescues.

History of the Moscow Water Dog

The creation of the Moscow water dog was originally commissioned by the Russian government and navy. In doing so, they hoped to create the ultimate rescue dog.

The idea was to select a few of the biggest dog breeds around (that also displayed the traits necessary for the job), and combine them into one super-swimming, water-rescue pup.

This meant mixing the gentle nature of the Newfoundland, with the work ethic, power, and bravery of the Caucasian and Eastern European shepherds. 

But these dogs weren’t created by run-of-the-mill dog breeders; because they were slated for very important work, the breed was only produced by the state-operated “Red Star Kennels” under the command of Colonel G. P. Medvedev.

As expected, the Moscow water dog had an ideal fluffy double-coat that was perfect for cold water and inclement weather. But unfortunately, the breed picked up some of the more aggressive tendencies from the east European shepherd.

Ultimately, the Moscow water dog was more likely to bite drowning victims than rescue them. Hence, the breed was never fully realized and went extinct in the 1980s. 

However, some of the breeds produced by this program are still around today, including most notably the black Russian terrier. This intelligent and powerful dog still has some Moscow water dog genes in his dog DNA. 

Physical Attributes of the Moscow Water Dog

While some of the physical details of the Moscow water dog remain unknown, we can guess that he was probably somewhere in between 110 and 140 pounds. This large dog was most likely 26 to 30 inches tall when full grown based on the heights of the parent breeds. 

These dogs likely had a fairly agile, athletic build due to their intended jobs, but you might have had difficulty seeing it buried in the thick, fluffy, double coat of these cold-proof canines. In fact, the undercoats of these dogs were likely super thick to help insulate them from the cold water.

It’s reasonable to suspect that these dogs may have had webbed feet, like their Newfoundland ancestors. But unfortunately, this just isn’t clear.

Based on the Moscow water dog’s Newfoundland parent, the dominant colors of the coat were likely brown or black. However, the varied genetic history makes other colors, like grey, white, or sable coat combinations possible. 

Due to the Moscow water dog’s large insulating coat, these dogs probably shed a ton, and their coats likely required frequent grooming to stay in the best shape possible. 

The Health of the Moscow Water Dog

Due to the Newfoundland blood in his pedigree, these dogs might have experienced health issues like cardiovascular problems, Addison’s disease, and hypothyroidism. Meanwhile, their Caucasian shepherd dog ancestors may have predisposed Moscow water dogs to cataracts.

Based on the breed’s large size, these dogs were likely subject to issues like joint pain and hip dysplasia, as well as gastric torsion (bloat) too. They would have probably also been slightly susceptible to weight gain, were it not for their active, working dog lifestyles.

The Moscow water dog probably had an average life expectancy 9 to 12 years.

Personality of the Moscow Water Dog

It’s impossible to know the personality of the Moscow water dog, but based on the parent breeds involved, we can guess that this water-loving pooch was bold, hard-working, and intelligent.

Though breeders hoped the Moscow water dog would pick up some of the gentle, kind traits from the Newfoundland bloodline, it unfortunately appears that the Moscow water dog was more aggressive when faced with high-pressure situations, leading to the ultimate extinction of the breed. 

Though these dogs were likely highly intelligent, it’s difficult to say whether or not they would be highly trainable due to their projected fearless, independent mindset. The Moscow water dog was probably at medium energy pooch throughout the day, while being ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

And like most other working dog breeds, these four-footers were probably happiest while doing their job and staying busy. 

Moscow Water Dog FAQS

Are you still hoping to learn more about these extinct and extraordinary dogs? Here are a few common questions and answers to strengthen your understanding. 

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Though these big beauties aren’t around today, the Moscow Water Dog helped pave the way for some of the most hard-working fearless dogs you can find. This short-lived breed was a fluffy yet mighty warrior.

Does the Moscow Water Dog remind you of any other breeds? What’s your favorite extinct breed? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!